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This article is about the earthquake and tsunami that impacted the Banggai Islands in May 2000. A succession of strong earthquake shook the eastern part of Indonesian on 4 and 5 May 2000. According to the United States Geological Survey, the strongest of the succession shocks occurred at 20.08 hours GMT on 4 May, or 4.08 hours on 5 May, and measured 6.5 on the Richter scale. The Banggai Island, an archipelago located at the far eastern end of Central Sulawesi Indonesia, was the worst affected by the earthquake in the area of Indonesia. Eighty percent of Banggai’s building was destroyed. Damage also occurred on Peleng. According to the U.S. Geology Survey: ‘Much of the damaged east of Luwuk and on Peleng was caused by a local tsunami with estimated wave heights up to 6 meters.’

Tectonic setting and background
Banggai (or Banggi, or Banguey) Islands, is an island in Indonesia, located on the

east coast of the Central Sulawesi Tengah peninsula and belongs to the Balabec and Palawan terrain to the north. Banggai islands is a minor island of Sulawesi, and the Peleng Island and Banggai Island form a cluster between Sulawesi and Maluku. Banggai and neighboring islands consist mostly of mélange of Paleogene or Miocene age. The Banggai islands are made up of 123 islands, 69 of which are inhabited. There are 193 villages. There is 170,000 population in Banggai area, and forty percent of them are Christian. The Banggai people are rugged people, and they are heavily influenced by globalization and modernity. Most of Banggai people’s lives are still cut out of the jungle and captured from the sea. Their first crop was coconut, Kalapa was second, and the third one was clove. They are grown according to season and demand in a wide variety, such as mango, papaya, durian, pumpkin, banana, cashew and seaweed (made into jelly). The houses of Banggai people usually have modest corrugated steel roofs and wood-paneled walls. Most of the 193 villages have government-provided electricity, but not everyone can afford it. Some villages still have to draw water from rivers and springs.

Intensities and Damage area
May 4: an earthquake and tsunami struck central Indonesia's Sulawesi province, killing 41 people and injuring 228 others. The islands of Banggai and Beringia were the worst affected. The strong earthquake jolted the province's Banggai Island. The quake, which measured 6.5 on the richer scale, struck 1121 (0

421 GMT). The epicenter was lower in the Maluku Sea, about 105km (65miles) off Peleng island. The tsunami is the direct effect of the earthquake and occurs when the epicenter of the earthquake beneath the sea. In the last 97 years (1899-1995), 48 tsunamis related to the tectonic quakes have occurred here.

According to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG): ‘The earthquake's epicenter was at 85 kilometers southwest of Banggai Island, located at a global positioning point of 1.90-degrees South Latitude and 122.54-degree East Longitude. The strongest aftershock was recorded at 5.6 magnitudes while the mildest one was recorded at 3.4 magnitudes.’

Casualties
Because of the remoteness of the area and the destruction of roads, it is difficult to assess the damage, but it is estimated that 10,500 families were destroyed, and 3500 families were in the area of Banggai district. According to official figures released by the Banggai regional government on May 13th, 45 people were killed and 270 injured, 54 of them seriously. According to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the overall damage to private and public buildings and infrastructure in the affected areas is as follows. Several villages were submerged by the tsunami and all houses were damaged. The rescue team identified the following families as homeless and in need of assistance in Banggai Islands and Peleng.

The response so far
Government action

The Indonesian government has distributed 30 tons of rice, 300 kilograms of sugar, milk powder and instant noodles on the Banggai Islands. According to the Indonesia government, medical supplies are available to support for at least six months.

The Indonesian Government provided

1, Volunteers to assist the rescue plan

2, Two navy ships serve as a hospital and as well for delivering supplies.

3, A geological group that provides accurate information about the statistics of the earthquake.

4, two medical teams

Five Mt. of the rice was released by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) from its inventory with the national government logistics agency.

The Ministry of Housing and Reginal Development decided to assist the Banggai Islands with allocating 16 billion Indian dong (USD 2.2 million) as long-term assistance for the reconstruction of housing.

International response
The Government of Japan provided a speed boat for effective emergency transportation.

Tsunami
A tsunami is a huge wave caused by an earthquake or an undersea volcanic eruption. Deep in the ocean, tsunami waves do not increase dramatically in height. But as waves move inland, they get higher and higher as the ocean's depth decreases. In a deep ocean, the wavelength of the tsunamis is enormous, which is 100 to 200 kilometers (60 to 120 miles), and the tsunamis can travel at up to 800 kilometers (500 miles). However, the amplitude (height) is smaller, only 30 to 60 centimeters (1 to 2 feet). Tsunamis are reflected and refracted by the topography of the seafloor and the structure of the shoreline.

Tsunami in Banggai, Sulawesi
The earthquake was caused by a tsunami (tidal wave) in Indonesia’s central province, Sulawesi. Indonesia meteorological agency (BMKG) detected that the quake also triggered five high meters tsunami that struck the eastern coast of Banggai and other smaller islands around it.

The 10 most destructive tsunami in the world
1, Sumatra, Indonesia – 26 December 2004

2, North Pacific Coast, Japan – 11 March 2011

3, Lisbon, Portugal – 1 November 1755

4, Krakatau, Indonesia – 27 August 1883

5, Enshunada Sea, Japan – 20 September 1498

6, Nankaido, Japan – 28 October 1707

7, Sanriku, Japan – 15 June 1896

8, Northern Chile – 13 August 1868

9, Ryuku Islands, Japan – 24 April 1771

10, Ise Bay, Japan – 18 January 1586